Trust N Luck gives Ziadie live one in Stallion Series

MIAMI - Calder's annual rite of summer, the $1.2 million Florida Stallion Series, starts on Saturday with the opening legs of the six-race series, the $75,000 Dr. Fager and Desert Vixen stakes. Both races will be decided at six furlongs.

The Dr. Fager drew a field of 10, led by the undefeated Trust N Luck who has won both his previous starts including an entry-level allowance race by three widening lengths.

"So far he's done everything right, and he's coming into the race doing extremely well," said Ralph Ziadie, who trains Trust N Luck for E. Paul Robsham. "The further he goes the better I believe he'll get, and at this point in his career he might be better than any other 2-year-old I've had."

Ziadie, who has trained five previous Stallion Series winners, said Trust N Luck is a versatile sort and that he will leave the racing strategy for the Dr. Fager in the hands of jockey Gary Boulanger.

"Gary doesn't need me to tell him what to do," said Ziadie. "My horse has tactical speed and can go to the front if he wants or lay close to the pace. It will all depend on how the race develops."

Trust N Luck's chief rivals in the Dr. Fager may be Supah Blitz and Kissin Bold.

Supah Blitz finished second, beaten a half-length by Hear No Evil, despite a slow start in the Criterium Stakes. He was also second, beaten a neck by Sweet Promises, in Gulfstream Park's Valid Appeal Stakes.

Kissin Bold was an impressive maiden winner going 6 1/2 furlongs in his last start and has continued to train extremely well in preparation for the Criterium.

King Robyn and Scrubs turned in impressive performances to graduate at first asking earlier in the meet but have been unable to duplicate those efforts against winners. Both will race in blinkers for the first time in the Dr. Fager.

The undefeated Ivanavinalot and stakes winning Heavenly Miss top a field of 10 juvenile fillies in the Desert Vixen.

Ivanavinalot loped to an easy 11-length victory in her debut then had to overcome a very rough trip to defeat allowance company by 1 1/4 lengths in her only other start.

"She nearly gave me heart failure in that second race," said trainer Kathleen O'Connell. "Everything that could possibly happen did happen. I wanted her to get an education in the race, so we took her back off the pace, but that was pretty scary stuff. Fortunately she came out of the race in good shape."

O'Connell says Ivanavinalot is a versatile sort who can run from on or off the pace. O'Connell is also not afraid if the track comes up wet for the Desert Vixen.

"She's like an all-terrain vehicle," said O'Connell. "I think she'll run on any surface."

Heavenly Miss is the only stakes winner in the Desert Vixen, having overcome a rough trip to win the J j'sdream Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths.

Formal Miss, a troubled third in the J j'sdream, Running Debate, the undefeated My Sky and promising Fortunate Card loom the other key contenders.

Running Debate, a disappointing seventh in the J j'sdream following two impressive wins, will race in blinkers for the first time on Saturday.

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